Static exercising device for the human body

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a static exercising device for the human body, which, in use, does not rely upon any moving parts. The device includes a base carrying a raised pelvic support member, foot-locating means, and a body support surface, which enable the execution of exercises in a prone or semiprone position. The pelvic support member also defines part of a raised, upwardly and downwardly opening, openwork frame for locating and stabilizing the pelvic region of the body in directions transversely and longitudinally of the base when exercising in an upright position.

Inventor Harry Burns 3.119.613 1/1964 Zbyszko.......r.....4.........

Epping, Essex, England FOREIGN PATENTS 8 5 7 7 2 W m m m w mh n. kdBm.m.m& m fll mcfim ym m l awe m haw 1 .w R 4 .m 3 rm w we M m m mx" 3 E5 9 W e am l m w 3 nm" PAA Hm n wwwm 1 9-! Q0028 slll s $3 7JA'JGZ 0 dMrwmo na n AFPP 111111. 7-523 224333 11.1..ll1.

[541 STATIC EXERCISING DEVICE FOR THE HUMAN BODY 8 Claims, 3 DrawingFigs.

ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a static exercising device for thehuman body, which, in use, does not rely upon any moving parts. Thedevice includes a base carrying a raised pelvic support member,foot-locating means, and a body support surface, which enable theexecution of exercises in a prone or semiprone position. Thepelvicsupport member also defines part of a raised, upwardly and downwardlyopening, openwork frame for locating and stabilizing the pelvic region[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,922 2/l956Diego...........................

of the body in directions transversely and longitudinally of the basewhen exercising in an upright position.

PATENTED AUG] 019?:

SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTED AUG! 0 1971 SHEET 3 OF 3 STATIC EXERCISING DEVICEFOR THE HUMAN BODY The present invention relates to exercising apparatusby means of which a person may carry out a variety of physicalexercises. The invention particularly relates to a static device, i.e. adevice which, unlike rowing machines and the like, does not rely for itsoperation upon moving parts, and which may be employed to exercise andactivate at least the spinal and abdominal regions of the human body.

According to the present invention, there is provided a static physicalexercising device comprising a base on which is mounted a raised supportmember capable of supporting the pelvic region of a human body, anadjustable foot-locating member spaced longitudinally from the raisedsupport member and also spaced from a surface intended to support thetrunk of the human body by the raised support member, the supportsurface and the raised support member being mutually relativelyadjustable. The support surface is preferably attached to a framework,which also serves to carry the support member, so as to be adjustable ininclination.

The design of the device may be such that the framework is foldableagainst the base when the device is not in use, to

facilitate transport or storage of the device. The heights and relativepositions of the various components are preferably made adjustable toaccommodate persons of different heights, for example, adults andchildren. The inclinable support surface may be detachably mounted onthe framework to permit its removal when not in use.

This device may be used to exercise the human body when positioned in aprone or semiprone position. For example, exercises involving abdominalcontraction and extension, and lumbar spinal contraction and extensionmay be carried out by lying, respectively, face upwards or downwardsupon the device, supported in the pelvic region on the raised supportmember, with the feet in engagement with the foot-locating member toimmobilize the lower part of the body, and with the upper region of thetrunk or torso supported on the inclinable support surface. By raisingthe trunk from, and lowering the trunk onto, the support surface, therequired exercise is offected. By varying the height of thefoot-locating member and/or the inclination of the support surface, thevarious exercises may be made more or less rigorous.

According to a feature of the invention, the device is provided withmeans to assist a person to exercise in a standing or upright position.To this end, the device may be provided, in the region of the raisedsupport member, with means to locate, in a lateral direction, the pelvicregion of the body of a person standing in the device. Although saidmeans laterally locate the pelvic region, they allow unrestrictedmovement of the trunk, thus stabilizing the person executing exercisessuch as forward and backward trunk movement and trunk circling.

ln order that the invention may be more readily understood, oneembodiment thereof will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from one side, of the device in its erector operative condition, and with the inclinable support surface in ahorizontal position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device taken from the left-hand endin FIG. 1, and with the support surface inclined relative to thehorizontal position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device in its folded or inoperativecondition.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a base I to which anupwardly extending framework is connected. The framework comprises atriangulated frame 2 including a pair of transversely spaced uprightframe portions 2', and a pair of transversely spaced inclined frameportions 2". The frame portions 2' and 2" are hingedly connected attheir lower ends to the base I, for example, by bolts or pins 3, and attheir apices i.e. their other ends, carry a first raised crossmember,namely a pelvic support member comprising a padded seat 4. The seat 4 isadjustably secured to the frame 2 by manually operable nuts or screws 5which, when loosened, also allow the tops of the frame portions 2" to beseparated from the tops of the frame portions 2 to facilitate folding ofthe device. Adjacent the seat 4, handgrips 6 are secured to the frameportion 2 by engagement in sleeves 6' (FIG. 3) carried by the frameportions 2'. The grips 6 carry inverted, U-shaped, preferably paddedoutriggers 6" which engage second raised cross member comprising acrossbar 7 secured between the frame portions 2". The bar 7 togetherwith the seat 4 and the Outriggers 6", constitute a raised, upwardly anddownwardly opening, openwork frame defining a generally rectangularspace of a size adequate to accommodate the pelvic region of the trunkof a person when standing in the framework, for example, on a pair offootplates 8 carried by the base 1.

Spaced longitudinally from the seat 4, and hingedly connected to thebase 1 by pins or bolts, is an end frame 9 carrying a foot-locatingmember comprising a subframe l0 slidably adjustable up and down the endframe 9. The foot-locating member also includes footplates 11, having apair of toe straps 12, secured to crossbars 13. Each footplate 11, atits lower end, is also provided with a crossmember comprising atransverse bar l4 projecting towards the frame 2, which serves as anadditional foot-locating bar. The inclination of the end frame 9 isadjustable by means of a telescopic strut 15 hinged at opposite ends tothe base 1 and the lower crossbar 13 respectively. This adjustmentenables the distance between the seat 4 and foot-locating member to bevaried. Adjustment of the subframe 10 and of the telescopic strut 15 iseffected by releasing manually operable indexing devices or latches l6.

Hinged, for example, by a releasable hinge pin 17, to the side of theupright frame portions 2' remote from the end frame 9 and below thelevel of the seat 4, is a flat table or support surface 18. The end orhead of the support surface [8 remote from the hinge is supported by atelescopically adjustable strut l9, hinged to or resting on the base atits lower end, which permits adjustment of the inclination of thesurface 18.

The base I and the upwardly extending framework carried thereby, namelythe frame 2, handgrips 6, end frame 9, sub frame 10, and struts l5 and19 may be made from tubing of suitable dimension, for example, from mildsteel tubing.

The device, when in its erect or operational condition as shown in FIGS.l and 2, is intended to be used in the following manner:

In order to activate or exercise the abdominal region of the human body,the device is initially arranged with the support surface 18 horizontalas shown in FIG. 1, and with the subframe 10 in its lowermost position.The person carrying out the exercise lies in a prone position faceupwards on the device, with the pelvic region of the body supported onthe padded seat 4, feet hooked into the toe straps l2, knees bent, andthe back resting along the length of the support surface 18. By bendingat the waist, the trunk is raised from the support surface 18, and thenlowered back onto this surface, and this sequence is repeated therequisite number of times, thereby achieving abdominal contraction andextension. The degree of movement and complexity of the exercises may beprogressively increased by shortening the strut 19 to incline thesupport surface 18 as shown in PK]. 2, and ultimately by removing thesupport surface, or disconnecting the strut l9 and hinging the surfacedown into a substantially vertical position adjacent the frame portions2'. With the support surface moved out of the way, circular movement ofthe trunk may also be accommodated while in the prone position.Progression may also be provided by raising the subframe 9, andtherefore the toe straps l2.

In order to activate or exercise the spine, the person lies in a proneface downwards position across the padded seat 4 with the balls of thefeet, or the toes, engaged under the transverse bars l4 carried by thefootplates ll, and with the chest resting initially on the horizontalsupport surface 18. By flexing the spine, the trunk is raised from thesupport surface and then lowered back onto the surface a number oftimes, thereby achieving lumbar spinal contraction and extension. Aspreviously mentioned, the complexity and range of movement may beprogressively increased by lowering and/or removing the support surface,and/or by raising the subframe 10, and therefore the transverse bars 14.Trunk circling may also be carried out in this position.

Forward and backward trunk movement, and trunk circling may also becarried out employing the device, by a person in a standing positioninstead of a prone position. In this event, the person stands, facingtowards the padded seat 4, within the generally rectangular spacebounded by the seat 4, crossbar 7 and the outriggers 6" or frameportions 2", feet on the foot plates 8. The said trunk movement may thenbe effected, while the pelvis and legs are supported and located by thesaid components bounding the rectangular space. This support andlocation enables maximum movement of the trunk without overbalancing.

Although specific exercises have been described, these are given by wayof example, and other exercises employing the device may be evolved.During the exercises, assistance may be obtained by using the handgrips6.

When the device is not in use, to facilitate transport or storage, itmay be folded to the substantially flat condition shown in FIG. 3. Thismay be achieved by disengaging the bottom of the strut 19 from the base1, swinging the strut 19 against the support surface 18 and preferablysecuring it there by a spring clip or the like (not shown), and swingingthe surface 18 against the frame portions 2'. The upper ends of theframe portions 2" are unhooked from the portions 2 after loosening thenuts or screws 5, and the portions 2' and 2" are then swung against thebase. The strut is telescoped, the subframe 10 adjusted to its lowermostposition, and this subframe 10 and the end frame 9 are swung against thebase 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided adevice which may be used to carry out a fully comprehensive range ofexercises to improve the physical condition of various parts of thehuman body, and particularly to activate the midsection of the body, andalso to slim the body, thighs or buttocks. The device is ofcomparatively simple construction, is rigid and stable when erected,requiring no fixing or anchorage, and is static, i.e. does not rely forits functioning, upon moving parts such as levers or the like. Thedevice is portable, and will fold substantially flat when not in use,and is, therefore, particularly advantageous for personal or domesticuse.

The device may be used for remedial and rehabilitation purposes wheregraduated spinal mobility and controlled abdominal activation isparticularly required. it will be understood that various modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.For example, the device need not be foldable but may instead be a rigidpermanent structure, and it may be of a more robust nature, when it isintended to be used in a club, gymnasium or hospital. The position anddesign of the various components may be changed, and the manner in whichthey are interconnected and are adjusted, may be modified.

The seat 4 may be adjustable in height up and down the frame portions 2'or their equivalent, as may be the support surface 18 which need notnecessarily be inclinable. The support surface and seat may, in thisrespect, be formed as a single unit so as to be adjustable in unison.The device may thus be used with the seat 4 at a low level to inspireconfidence. When the seat 4 is adjustable in height, the device need notnecessarily incorporate a support surface corresponding to the surface18, since this surface may be constituted by the base I, or the floor orother surface on which the device is standing. in this event, trunkraising and lowering may be made progressively more rigorous byprogressively increasing the height of the seat 4 above the base orfloor on which the trunk is sup ported in the relaxed condition.

The base I may itself be foldable, for example, between the mountingpoints of the frame portions 2 and the strut I), to reduce the overalllength of the base, and therefore the device, when in its foldedcondition. In this event, the frame portions 2' may also be foldable ortelescopic.

The crossmembers 13, and/or additional crossmembers or straps carried bythe subframe 10 or endframe 9, may be employed as foot-locating membersinstead of, or in addition to, the footplates l1, straps l2 and bars 14.

I claim:

1 A static physical exercising device including:

a. a base,

b. a first support means capable of supporting the pelvic region of thehuman body,

0. said support means having a first crossmember raised above andmounted on the base,

d. a second support means intended to support the trunk of the humanbody,

c. said second support means having a support surface adjustable inheight,

f. an adjustable foot-locating member carried by said base,

said foot-locating member being adjustable in height relative to saidfirst raised crossmember,

g. a rigid frame means formed in part by said first raised crossmemberto locate, in a lateral direction, the pelvic region of the body of aperson when standing upright in the device, as well as to stabilize intransverse and longitudinal directions of the base said pelvic region.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first raised crossmemberis dimensioned to engage only a comparatively narrow zone of the humanbody during exercising in prone and upright positions, and the supportsurface comprises a table member of a size sufficient to support atleast a major proportion of the body, hingedly detachably attached tosaid rigid frame means to permit adjustment of the inclination of thetable member at least from a generally horizontal position, downwardlytowards the base.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rigid frame meansincludes, a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced sidesupports to locate, in a lateral direction, the pelvic region of thebody of a person when standing in the device, said rigid frame meansfurther including a second raised crossmember spaced longitudinallyfrom. and disposed generally parallel to, the first raised crossmember,between the latter and said foot-locating member, and, together with thefirst raised crossmember, locating the pelvic region in a longitudinaldirection.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, provided with handgrip meanscomprising a pair of handles detachably secured to the rigid frame meansadjacent opposite ends of the raised crossmembers, said handles beingintegral with the side supports.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heightof thefoot-locating member above the base is adjustable, and its horizontalspacing from the first raised crossmember is also adjustable.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least some of thecomponents thereof which, in use, are raised above the base, are adaptedto be folded against the base when not in use.

7. A static physical exercising device including; a horizontal tubularmetal framework base of generally rectangular configuration; a pair oftriangulated tubular metal frames collapsibly mounted on the frameworkbase intermediate the ends of the latter; a pair of horizontal footsupports fixed to the base adjacent the lower ends of the triangulatedframes; a first raised crossmember, capable of supporting the pelvicregion of a human body, and comprising a padded seat adjustably mountedadjacent the apices of the frames and extending therebetween; a bodysupport surface hingedly connected between the frames adjacent theraised support member extending therefrom above the base towards one endthereof; an adjustable strut supporting the support surface from thebase to permit variation of the inclination of the support surfacerelative to the base; an upwardly extending generally rectangulartubular metal end frame hingedly mounted on the base adjacent theopposite end thereof; an adjustable strut connecting the end frame tothe base at a position intermediate the ends thereof for locating theend frame at a predetermined angle with respect to the plane of thebase; a tubular subframe mounted for sliding adjustment up and down theend frame; a air of foot-locating members carried by the subframe; apair of transversely spaced handles detachably secured to the framesadjacent the apices thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom; sidesupports integral with the handles extending towards the subframe andengaging the frames; and a second raised crossmember spanning the framesat a position spaced longitudinally from the seat; the elementscomprising said side supports, seat and second raised crossmemberdefining a generally horizontally disposed area of a size, and at aheight above the base, such that these elements form a structure capableof locating the pelvic region of the body of a person when standing onthe horizontal fixed foot supports.

8. A static physical exercising device adapted to be employed toexercise the human body both when located in a prone or semiprone, faceup and face down position, and in an upright position, comprising astructure for use in prone and semiprone exercising, said structureincluding a base, a first raised crossmember comprising a pelvic supportmember extending transversely above, and carried by, the base,footlocating means carried by the base and spaced longitudinally alongthe base from the pelvic support member, said footlocating means beingadapted to locate the feet of a person when supported by the pelvicsupport member, both in a toesup and toes-down attitude of the person,means for permitting adjustment of the height of the foot-locating meansrelative the pelvic support member at least within a zone bounded by thehorizontal plane of the base and the horizontal plane of the pelvicsupport member, a raised surface intended to support the body, extendinglongitudinally of the base and spaced longitudinally from thefoot-locating means with the pelvic sup port member positioned betweenthe foot-locating means and the raised surface, and means to adjust theinclination of said raised surface at least in a direction downwardlytowards the base; in combination with a structure for use in uprightexercising, said latter structure including a stationary and rigid,upwardly and downwardly opening openwork frame, carried by, and raisedabove, the base, at a height, and and of a size, to receive, locate andstabilize in transverse and longitudinal directions of the base, thepelvic region of the body of a person when standing on the base, saidopenwork frame being partly defined by said pelvic support member.

1. A static physical exercising device including: a. a base, b. a firstsupport means capable of supporting the pelvic region of the human body,c. said support means having a first crossmember raised above andmounted on the base, d. a second support means intended to support thetrunk of the human body, e. said second support means having a supportsurface adjustable in height, f. an adjustable foot-locating membercarried by said base, said foot-locating member being adjustable inheight relative to said first raised crossmember, g. a rigid frame meansformed in part by said first raised crossmember to locate, in a lateraldirection, the pelvic region of the body of a person when standingupright in the device, as well as to stabilize in transverse andlongitudinal directions of the base said pelvic region.
 2. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first raised crossmember is dimensionedto engage only a comparatively narrow zone of the human body duringexercising in prone and upright positions, and the support surfacecomprises a table member of a size sufficient to support at least amajor proportion of the body, hingedly detachably attached to said rigidframe means to permit adjustment of the inclination of the table memberat least from a generally horizontal position, downwardly towards thebase.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rigid frame meansincludes, a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced sidesupports to locate, in a lateral direction, the pelvic region of thebody of a person when standing in the device, said rigid frame meansfurther including a second raised crossmember spaced longitudinallyfrom, and disposed generally parallel to, the first raised crossmember,between the latter and said foot-locating member, and, together with thefirst raised crossmember, locating the pelvic region in a longitudinaldirection.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, provided with handgripmeans comprising a pair of handles detachably secured to the rigid framemeans adjacent opposite ends of the raised crossmembers, said handlesbeing integral with the side supports.
 5. A device as claimed in claim2, wherein the height of the foot-locating member above the base isadjustable, and its horizontal spacing from the first raised crossmemberis also adjustable.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at leastsome of the components thereof which, in use, are raised above the base,are adapted to be folded against the base when not in use.
 7. A staticphysical exercising device including; a horizontal tubular metalframework base of generally rectangular configuration; a pair oftriangulated tubular metal frames collapsibly mounted on the frameworkbase intermediate the ends of the latter; a pair of horizontal footsupports fixed to the base adjacent the lower ends of the triangulatedframes; a first raised crossmember, capable of supporting the pelvicregion of a human body, and comprising a padded seat adjustably mountedadjacent the apices of the frames and extending therebetween; a bodysupport surface hingedly connected between the frames adjacent theraised support member extending therefrom above the base towards one endthereof; an adjustable strut supporting the support surface from thebase to permit variation of the inclination of the support surfacerelative to the base; an upwardly extending generally rectangulartubular metal end frame hingedly mounted on the base adjacent theopposite end thereof; an adjustable strut connecting the end frame tothe base at a position intermediate the ends thereof for locating theend frame at a predetermined angle with respect to the plane of thebase; a tubular subframe mounted for sliding adjustment up and down theend frame; a pair of foot-locating members carried by the subframe; apair of transversely spaced handles detachably secured to the framesadjacent the apices thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom; sidesupports integral with the handles extending towards the subframe andengaging the frames; and a second raised crossmember spanning the framesat a position spaced longitudinally from the seat; the elementscomprising said side supports, seat and second raised crossmemberdefining a generally horizontally disposed area of a size, and at aheight above the base, such that these elements form a structure capableof locating the pelvic region of the body of a person when standing onthe horizontal fixed foot supports.
 8. A static physical exercisingdevice adapted to be employed to exercise the human body both whenlocated in a prone or semiprone, face up and face down position, and inan upright position, comprising a structure for use in prone andsemiprone exercising, said structure including a base, a first raisedcrossmember comprising a pelvic support member extending transverselyabove, and carried by, the base, foot-locating means carried by the baseand spaced longitudinally along the base from the pelvic support member,said foot-locating means being adapted to locate the feet of a personwhen supported by the pelvic support member, both in a toes-up andtoes-down attitude of the person, means for permitting adjustment of theheight of the foot-locating means relative the pelvic support member atleast within a zone bounded by the horizontal plane of the base and thehorizontal plane of the pelvic support member, a raised surface intendedto support the body, extending longitudinally of the base and spacedlongitudinally from the foot-locating means with the pelvic supportmember positioned between the foot-locating means and the raisedsurface, and means to adjust the inclination of said raised surface atleast in a direction downwardly towards the base; in combination with astructure for use in upright exercising, said latter structure includinga stationary and rigid, upwardly and downwardly opening openwork frame,carried bY, and raised above, the base, at a height, and of a size, toreceive, locate and stabilize in transverse and longitudinal directionsof the base, the pelvic region of the body of a person when standing onthe base, said openwork frame being partly defined by said pelvicsupport member.